Switch-tongue-control device.



A. TAURMAN.

SWITCH TONGUE CONTROL DEVICE.

APPLICATION HLED APR. 1s, 1.918.

- 1,288,744. Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

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SWITCH TONGUE CONTROL DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 15, 191B.

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ALPI'IONSO TAURMAN, 0F RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

SWITCH-TONGUE-CONTBOL DEVICE.

Application filed April 15, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALPHoNso TAURMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico, State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Tongue- Control Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact de scription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention is directed to new and useful improvements in devices for yieldably holding the movable tongue of a switch frog against switching movement, and more particularly of that type including a spring urged cam member controlling a tongue connected crank and engaging a suitable sta tionary member whereby to continuously urge the tongue to desired position.

It is the object of the present invention to simplify and strengthen the structure, and to increase the efliciency of devices of this character more particularly by the provision of an arrangement of parts of such rugged construction as to obviate the'necessity for a fluid tight housing for protecting the cam mechanism from the elements and from contact with the usual mud and other foreign matter which would be encountered by a device inset along the track.

A further and more specific object resides in the provision of a switch tongue controlling device of this nature which may be readily adapted to urge the switch tongue to switching position at either side of the switching frog, dependent upon the disposition of the tongue to either side of an intermediate position, Or which may be actuated to urge the tongue toward only one side of the frog from whichever pos-itionthe tongue may assume, thus forming in the first instance what is commonly known as a switch lock, and in the other instance forming what is known as a spring switch.

A still further object resides in the provision of a switch tongue controlling mechanism of this nature which is most readily accessible to provide adjustment of the spring thereof, to compensate for wear. or for the weakening of said spring.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention resides more particularly in the novel combination, for- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

Serial No. 228,647.

the casing transversely of the plane of the first section and showing the main shaft and cams in elevation.

Fig. 4E is a similar view, showing the rele: tion of parts assumed in one of the spring urged switching positions of the tongue.

Fig. 5 is a similar view, but showing the device adapted for use in forming a spring switch.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, 10 designates a switch frog of entirely conventional nature, having a single track section 11 at one'end, a pair of track sections 12 at its other end and having a switch tongue 13 pivotally mounted therein and adapted to be thrown by any suitable means (not shown).

My improved tongue controlling device comprises a casing formed of a bottom 14:, walls 15 and a removable cover 16, the details of the cover and its mounting on the casing being of any suitablenature to provide for a ready removal of the cover and a fair degree of protection for the interior of the casing. An attaching lug 17 is projected from one side wall of the casing, and this lug and said wall are apertured for the reception of bolts 18 securing the casing against one side of the frog adjacent the free end portion of the tongue, the top of the casing being substantially flush with the top of the frog.

For mounting the control mechanism in the casing, a vertical shaft 19 is secured in one end portion of the casing by threaded engagement of its lower end in an aperture 20 in the bottom of the casing, the extremity of the shaft projecting below said bottom and having threaded thereon a nut 21 bearing against the casing and held by a lock ing pin 22 passed therethrough and through the shaft. The upper end of the shaft is unsecured and projects into a recess 23 in the bottom of the cover. Engaged on the shaft and seated on the bottom of the casing is a stationary cam disk 24 having diametrically opposed angular cam projections 25 thereon having cam faces disposed at an angle of substantially 120 degrees to each other and meeting at a line extending perpendicular to and intersecting the axis of the shaft. Slidably and rotatably mounted on the shaft is a second cam disk 26 having diametrically opposed cam projections 27 thereon corresponding in size and shape to the projections 25 whereby opposite faces of the cam projections 25 and 27 may be engaged to urge the cam disk 26 rotatably in either direction under the influence of an expansile coil spring 28 mounted on the shaft andbearing against the disk 26 and against a cupped bearing plate 29 adjustably held on the upper end of the shaft by a nut 30. Extending from the cam disk 26 longitudinally of the casing is a crank arm 31 which carries at its free end a wrist pin 32 on which is pivotally mounted an eye 33 at one end of a rod 3 1 which extends outwardly of the casing through an aperture 35 in the outer side wall thereof. The outer end of the rod 341 is threaded into one end'of a sleeve 36 which has one end bifurcated to receive between its furcations in pivotal connection the eye 37 of an eye bolt 38 which is passed through a lug 39 depending from the switch tongue 13 and which is rigidly secured in said lug by a nut 410 threaded on its outer end and binding the lug between said nut and an annular rib 41 on its inner portion. A look nut 42 is threaded on the rod 33 and bears against the end of the sleeve 36 to prevent the parts from possibly working loose.

By this connection between the crank arm 31 and the switch tongue, compensation is had for the vertical movement of the cam disk 26 incidental to the rotative engagement of its cam face with the cam face of the fixed disk 2%, it being noted that the eye 33 of the connecting rod 34 is sufiiciently loose to permit a rocking movement of the rod on the wrist pin 32. It is further'noted that the axis of the bolt 38 is located in a plane mid-way of the parallel planes including the axis of the wrist pin 32 in its extreme operative positions procuring a horizontal rocking movement of the connecting rod 34c, and thus the rod is subjected to a minimum rocking motion which is readily taken up by looseness of the pivot bolt of the sleeve 36. An adjustment of the connection between the tongue 13 and crank arm 31 may obviously be effected by threading movement of the rod 34: in the sleeve 36 to thus coiirdinate the oscillating movements of said tongue and crank, it being noted that the engagement of the tongue with the sides of the switch frog limits the pivotal movement of the crank arm.

In the use of the controlling device as a spring switch whereby the switch tongue is resiliently urged to the limit of each switching position upon movement past an intermediate point, the arrangement shown specifically in Figs. 2, 3, and a is employed wherein the apex line of the cam projections 25 extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the switch frog whereby in the central position of the switch tongue, as shown in Fig. 3 the apex lines ofthe cam projections of the fixed and rotative cam disks 24 and 26 respectively coincide. Thus upon movement of the switch tongue to either side of its central position, it will be resiliently urged to the corresponding limit of switching movement, and W111 be prevented from remaining in said central position inasmuch as under influence of the spring 28 the cam' disk 26 would rotate to either side of the apex line of the cams 25. A positive means is thus afl'orded for preventing the occurrence of what 1s 'commonly known as a split switch where n the tongue remains in intermediate pos1t1on or moves from one position to another while cars are passing thereover. I

It is noted that in the operatlon just described approximately one-half of each of the operative faces of the cam pr'o-jectlons is utilized, and this extent of the cam face is provided for purpose of transformmg the switch controlling device when desired mto wh a t is commonly known. as a spring switch, wherein the switch tongue is resiliently urged to one side of the switch frog from whichever positionv it may assume. In this use of the device, the stationary cam disk 24 is shifted rotatively about the bolt 18 until its apex line extends obliquely of the swltch frog, as shown in Fig.5. One slde faceof each cam projection 27 of the rotating disk 26 thus has movement over practically the entire extent of a side face of the corresponding fixed cam projection 25 and never passes the apex line of the cam pro ect1on, the range of cam movement thus afforded providing for complete switching movement of the switch tongue and serving to always urge the switch tongue in one direction. While the means for securing the stationary cam disk 24 to the bottom of the casing comprises in the present instance rivets 4-3,

for the cam disk would usually occur only incidental to the installation of the controlling device.

An exceedingly simple device has thus been provided which is strong and durable in nature andwhich will operate efficiently under all conditions of use, it being noted particularly that the rugged and simple structure employed renders the device independent of the necessity for providing a fluid tight housing for any parts thereof.

The provision of a crank arm formed directly on the switch moving cam disk 26, and the pivotal securement of the connecting rod 34: of this crank arm with the switch tongue conduce particularly to the simplicity and rugged nature of the structure in the avoidance of any relatively movable portions in the structure between which mud or silt might pack to clog the operation.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. A switch controlling device comprising a casing, a cam member movable in the cas ing, a stationary member engageable by said movable cam member, means urging the cam member toward the stationary member to procure rotation of the cam member in such movement, a crank arm on the cam member and a switch tongue connection for the crank arm.

2. A switch controlling device including a casing, a cam member rotatably and slidably mounted in the casing, a stationary member engageable by said cam member, a spring resiliently urging said cam member to engagement with said stationary member, an operating rod connected at one end with the cam member and extending outwardly of the casing and means for pivotally connecting the other end of said rod with a switch tongue.

3. A switch controlling device including a casing, a cam member rotatably and slidably mounted in said casing, and including oppositely inclined cam faces, means for connecting said cam member with a switch tongue, a spring resiliently urging said cam member in one direction and a normally stationary member engageable by the cam member to procure movement thereof under influence of the spring, said stationary member being shifitable to engage one face of the cam member or to engage both faces thereof whereby to vary the control of the switch tongue.

4. A switch controlling device comprising a casing, a shaft therein, a cam disk normally fixed on the shaft, a cam disk slidably rotatable on the shaft, cooperating pro- --jections on said cam disks, a crank arm on the rotatable cam disk, means for connecting said crank arm with a switch tongue, a coil spring on the shaft bearlng agalnst the second named disk and an adjustable tensioning member on the shaft engaging said coil spring. I

5. A switch controlling device comprising a casing, a shaft therein, a cam disk slidably rotatable on the shaft and having a cam projection thereon, a stationary cam projection engageable by the first projection, a. spring engageable with said cam disk, a crank arm on the disk and a switch tongue connection for said crank arm.

6. A switch controlling device including a casing, a cam member movable in the casing, a stationary member engageable by said movable cam member, means urging the cam toward the stationary member," a crank arm on the movable cam member, a member adapted for securement to a switch tongue, a sleeve having one end pivotally connected with the said attaching member and a rod having one end secured to the crank arm and its other end threadedly engaged in the other end of the sleeve.

7. A switch tongue controlling device including a casing, a pair of relatively mova ble members therein having cam engage-- ment, means resiliently urging said members together, a crank arm formed on one of said members and a rod pivotally connected with said crank arm and adapted for pivotal connection with a switch tongue.

8. A switch tongue controlling device including a casing, a pair of relatively movable members therein having cam engage ment, means resiliently urging said members together, means for connecting one of said members with a switch tongue, a pair of outstanding intersecting c'am faces on the specified member engageable with the other member and means for holding the other member against cam movement in a manner permitting shifting of said other member to engage for cam action either or both of the cam faces of the first specified member.

9. A switch tongue controlling device in cluding a casing, a shaft secured to and extending inwardly from one wall of the casing, a stationary cam member adjacent the juncture of the wall and easing, a cam disk rotatably and slidably mounted on the shaft and including a portion engageable with the stationary cam member, a crank arm on the cam disk, a rod pivotally connected with the crank arm and adapted for pivotal connection with a switch tongue and a spring on the shaft urging the cam disk toward the stationary cam member.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALPHONSO TAURMAN. Witnesses: j a

A. C. BURKE, T. J. MORRISSETTE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 0. 

